Grace is always there- are you ready -Shanti Meditation-II

Grace is the greatest paradox

The existence is a great paradox as mind perceives it but it is great organization. What event, person, condition does not follow the mind and the reason put forth by the mind, becomes paradox for the mind. ‘Atom’ the word given to the smallest particle became paradox when scientists discovered many smaller participles than the ‘atom’. Not only that, scientists further declared that particle behaves like a wave into greater paradox for the mind. Grace is the greatest paradox for the mind and blessings from the existence. It flows at every moment. Without grace, I could not write nor can you read this article. Without grace, neither you nor me, can live, move and act even for a single second. Grace flows from moment to moment in human life and everywhere but where are the eyes and ears to perceive it. Grace is here and now but where is that mind or state of mind that can receive it. My master once said to me when I called him from USA to Gangotri, Himalayas “my master, my beloved, give me the grace to work in life what you taught me, blessed me.

” He laughed at me which I heard on phone and said, “My son, it has been enough now, some time you also grace yourself, why are you seeking grace from me.” Later one he explained that grace is falling on me at every moment, I needed to perceive it, embrace it and bring down consciously to transform the life.

Grace pours when -three factors (personal effort) are present in an aspirant or practitioner

Grace explained by Shankara in his text – Viveka Chudamani in relation to personal effort by the aspirant who is treading the path of self-discovery. Grace is there when we are born as human being. Second grace is there when we long for liberation. Third grace is there when we are constantly cared by the master.

We are born as animal being need to become human being – first condition for grace

First grace of having a human birth appears to have no control but this is our ignorance. We consider as if we are born with two feet and two arms is enough to become a human being. We were all born as animals but we need to become a human being. Human being is becoming and does not come by birth alone. A tiger will remain tiger until death and a cow will remain cow until death but we, are in becoming process. We need to know consciously this ‘becoming processes and move towards becoming a human being. Mammals are known as closest to human race but all kids of animals stand on their feet the moment they take birth including the heavy and large one’s like elephants. What about us? We cannot stand on our own feet when our moth gives birth to us. In one sense we are the weakest of all living species and in other sense we are the strongest. We are the weakest as nature is now wants us to leave her hand and become independent, that is why we are known as the weakest living being. Nature in mammals and other living species constantly guides them; support them by its unconscious force. It guides us also in the beginning at the time of birth that is why we are animals for few years and need support of our parents. As we start growing older, we become aware to take care of physical activities and mental abilities. It is a becoming process. Psychologists say that our mind is more developed than animals; our brain is highly developed than animals. They have identified neo cortex as new brain that is evolving constantly irrespective of our perception of outer events as pain, pleasure, hatred, love, etc. There is a choice lies with us – to live unconsciously and governed by unconscious operation of the nature or to start living consciously , choose every event of life consciously and work towards our evolution. In one case, the entire evolution is governed by the consciousness force or unconscious nature like in animals. In second case, brain brings new level of awareness or mind possesses the three factors – observation, choice and control. We become human being when we consciously observe all events outside and inside followed by making a choice what is the best for us and later controlling it until we move or evolve to higher plane of consciousness. This is all about yoga and meditation. That is Sri Aurobindo says, ‘self-conscious finding is yoga.” That is Veda declares, ‘ Anandamveibrham’ the spiritual bliss is Brahman or the real-self.

We need to exercise the choice of living consciously from moment to moment. This choice needs effort in the beginning until one rejects and moves above the unconscious operation of the nature. This is personal effort that makes us ready to receive the grace that is falling upon us at every moment. How an animal can ever know if grace is there or not. How an unconscious person moving in ignorance can ever know if grace is there or not. When personal effort reaches to a point of saturation where there is no interference of nature, Shanti Meditation leads you there through simple, easy, effective steps. You remain a moment of ‘doing nothing’ after personal effort, you become conscious and aware of the grace is or has been falling on you. This is a great moment in life.

Direction and state of the mind – second condition for grace in life

A person running in the direction of the west in search of a sun when a monk was passing by learnt about him. The monk ran after the person, stopped him and forced him to change the direction of his face. The monk turned his face towards east and asked him to stop and see the sun in front of him. The person saw the sun and bowed to the monk. The person said,’ thanks O monk, you graced me and blessed me or otherwise I could not have seen the sun in my life.’

The story may not be true but parable conveys the greatest truth about where, how and why mind is moving at all. Mind is running outside in the external world in search of peace and happiness while they both dwell deep within all of us. We know it, still we run after things, events and people in the outer world. I was conducting Shanti Meditation yesterday to a group and one person asked me,’ what should I do to my spouse who does not understand and does not want to come for meditation here.’ I smiled said,’ he is really stubborn as he does not listen to you but you are greater stubborn as you are insisting him to come for meditation whiles you do not progress in meditation at all.’

You will find people of this type everywhere who will talk at length about the benefits and importance of meditation but they claim that meditation is not for them. They do not aspire to discover peace and happiness within them. They are moving in wrong direction. Their mental state may be intellectually right but still not ready to change the state of the mind through the practice. Why, because, they consider themselves as if they have achieved the state of the mind by reasoning and intellect. They have split personality and are divided. What is needed here to bring about a change in mind and mental state? A deep contemplation about life, reflection and search for reality within. All three combines forms intense aspiration. We need an intense aspiration for self-discovery. An argument against it says,’ oh it is all god will create an intense aspiration within me, then only I can move towards self-discovery.’ The argument appears to logically right but factually wrong as we do everything in our life from eating, drinking, reading, working for money without waiting for the grace from god but wants to escape from having any contemplation over self-discovery. Intense aspiration is a state of the mind and little above the mind if I may call intuitive factor. Mind is already graced by the god to all of us. We need to put the mind to work for intense aspiration towards self –discovery, then only we will know that grace is working in us. The drive of sex takes over us but unconsciously. The craving for money takes over us unconsciously for bringing pleasures in our life in future. The fit of anger takes over all of us and we realize after that we have done something wrong. But we are not ready to be taken over by the intense aspiration of self-discovery. There are many reasons for this- one whatever this ignorant mind claims is true is understood by us a true and rest is false. But this mind in ignorance can never know what lies beyond the mind if the mind is allowed to work for intense aspiration towards self-realization. There are many ways to awaken to intense aspiration. One of the ways is contemplation about four questions

What is the aim of life?

Why you have chosen the aim of life above?

What are your positive traits?

What are your negative traits?

First question clears the direction of the mind. Second question clears the motivation of pursuing the aim of life. Third question clears the positive traits and need to strengthen and increase their intensity to become more and more aware of hidden potentials that lie deep within and forth question helps in knowing and becoming aware of the ignorance and layers of unconsciousness in life that is governing you.

Any goal of life in the outer world does not remain permanent. Any motivation coming from the mind does not stand for long in your life unless it is moving towards the existence. Any positive trait/s is claimed by ego , and it does not drop by itself until you start raising its intensity and scope in your life. Any negativity does not leave you until you raise your level of consciousness by dropping and dissolving the movements of unconsciousness. I generally ask people,’ do you become angry, if they say –yes. I ask them, if they can become angry now.’ They instantly start smiling or laughing and claim that there is no reason to be angry at this moment. No, the answer is that they are aware at this moment and anger does not come when you are aware, it only comes when you lose self-awareness. When you contemplate and reflect over the four question daily for weeks and months, one day your mind will drop everything of the world outside and will start desiring or aspiring for something beyond the mind. Intense aspiration has taken the birth now. You only need to know it and continue to create the environment within so that flame remains in the midst of all activities. Grace is there within your conscious reach and you will experience as if grace is now pouring into your body, life, and mind, personal, professional and social lives at every moment.

Prepare yourself to be taken care of the living master –third condition for grace in life

I need not to talk about many masters whom I met during my search for 25 years. I went far to north eastern states and lived with many masters who performed many esoteric practices of Tantra in front of my eyes. I travelled to Shakti peeth (in different states of India) to know if I can receive grace. I practiced many practices as told by many masters during my journey to self-discovery. Once, I met a master (I do not want to name him) known as one of the great masters with huge followings. He asked me to sit in Padamasana for 3 hours and chant a specific mantra. It was a good opportunity for me at that time as I had practiced to sit in Padamasana for more than 4 hours. I sat for more than 3 hours and chanted the mantra for seven days. Nothing happened so I went to this master and asked him if he had given me wrong mantra or guided me wrongly. He saw me sitting for hours together; therefore, he could not challenge me at all. I challenged him and asked him if he simply guided me from the text without having any experience of his own. Anyhow, I fought with him and later went to another monastery nearby. The master of that monastery listening about the incident started laughing at me. He challenged my reasoning and asked me,’ my son, can you tell me what to do if I do not find a cloth to buy in the shop of grocery.” I said to him,’ how can you find cloth in the grocery shop.’ He smiled and asked,’ well how can you find a practice with a person who claims to be a master but actually not a master. You should have left him without saying him anything but your arrogance proved that you still need to change from within to receive the grace.’ “oh, I exclaimed as if I found the secret’ and said to him, ‘master, this is the last time and incident , I am not going to fight with anyone in the future, you gave me the secret. When I do not experience with a master, I must bow to him and should leave him to find another master until the goal is realized.’ The incident happened in 1983-84, since then, I had met many very well known and unknown masters but never spoke even a single word if I did not find the practice and preaching worthwhile. This master was not my master but became a great friend of mine.

Later on, when I found my master who initiated me and asked him about the meditation. He said while walking into the Himalayas, “my son what a mother need to do to remember her son working in USA.” I said, ‘nothing at all, it is there.’ My master replied,’ meditation IS and is there at all moment as it transcends time, you simply need to transcend the time and you are there. You transcend it in sleep but not aware, therefore, awareness beyond time is.” It was quite confusing to mind what he spoke as knowing or being in meditation was a challenge. I lived with him for more than 26 years- days, week, and months. I do not know when this mind became so passionate about the master and always wanted to see him, talk to him and beside him. After few years, master said me smilingly, ‘your zeal for meditation has eaten you up. My other disciples wait for meditation and meditation waits for you. It is this attitude which is required to discover oneself.’ I was always 30 minutes before meditation or talk started by the master. It continued for years and I realized much later that my master always cared and ready to answer my queries on mediation, real self, and spirituality. I realized abundance of loving started flowing towards me even when I was very young and quite new disciple amongst his many disciples. I would admit I never followed by my master and meditation consciously in the beginning but urge to know, practice and experience took possession in my mind, intellect and whole being. It is because of this commitment, my master always available for me and with me. Much later, I realized that grace asks you to prepare yourself first before you ask it to fall on you. And when my master taught me this text, he spoke at length about this principle.

One has to earn the care of master by one’s practice, inquiry and search. The master always loves every one equally but he always looks for the one whose passion has taken over his entire life. We generally experience this zeal in many of our activities like pleasure seeking, dinning at our favorite eating place and location. You may find a nerd in your family. You may like to speak about a person and his passion about pursuit of research, study or many other things in human life. Initially you start meditation practice; you experience calmness, and peace in life. You seek more of this calmness and peace within. You grow into experience and start realizing as if this peace and calmness are independent of anything outside. You become aware as if they come from above and behind the mind and thinking. And if continue to pursue the path remain committed and seek answers of many untold principles from the master, your master start taking care of you silently. You may now even know if the master has started working on you, silently but he does not leave this opportunity. You may not become aware for years that your master cares you the most and supports all your movements towards conscious evolution. After many years, I realized my masters’ attitude, action, teaching, changing moods, criticism carry the secret of his love and care about me. I found him teaching with examples. I discovered his message through speaking to others in my presence. I awakened to his silent teaching, many a times while referring examples in times of problems and sufferings. I went to him when my father died. When I reached to his monastery and met him. He simply looked at me and said nothing to me. Later in the evening, he asked me, ‘my son, do you know what death is. Death is all about your mental perception of ‘being nothing’. Because we are always afraid of our ‘non being’ we are also scared of our own death. That is why we lament and experience so called grief.” He continued talking addressing me while more than 25 disciples were also sitting. Later in the night, I was contemplating over what master spoke to me, something happened within as if death as a word became useless and unwanted within me. This is the care of the master. One has to earn that care but cannot be forced even though master loves every one equally.

Earn grace by personal effort – you will surely find a master who will awaken and liberate you

It is easy to read and speak about the grace. It is easier to go to any master and ask his grace for you. It is much easier to argue as to why a master does not bless or grace you in the modern world where there appears to me more master than disciples. Grace and blessings are always there in this world. It flows uninterrupted like river. The very existence moves by grace and blessings. River receives the grace of clouds while mountain tops become dry within seconds and seek water again. It is easy to intellectualize the very movement of grace and blessings but to be ready and earn grace and blessings demands a transition from animal being to human being, intense aspiration and constant, vigilant personal effort to become a chosen one to be cared by the master until awakening takes place. Personal effort is the key even when grace and blessings are known to act beyond the efforts both by the master and the disciple. Personal efforts move the existence deep within you and break the barrier between you and constant flowing grace and blessings.

Let grace and blessing start showering upon you here and now until you merge with existence and liberate yourself.